Uniform policies that restrict the use of a riding crop in under tack shows for 2-year-olds in training had a significant effect on riders’ actions during the Feb. 27 preview for the Fasig-Tipton Florida select juvenile auction, according to Fasig-Tipton director of marketing Terence Collier.

“We felt there was a sea change in attitude from the riders’ perspective in the degree of whip use between last year’s under tack show and this year’s show,” Collier said. “For the most part, the riders fully understood the sentiment of the whip rule and observed it in its fullest sense. There were a few incidents that bordered on infractions, and we are reviewing them. We anticipate there will be a very limited number of fines levied as a result of this review. But we don’t take it lightly. We are taking our time, and we feel that we made a huge amount of progress in a very fast learning curve. We will be sharing that with the riders as we go towards our Texas and Timonium (juvenile) sales."

Decisions about whether there were any infractions that warranted fines should be made by the end of this week, Collier added.

The Fasig-Tipton Florida sale was held March 3 at Calder Race Course, which also was the site for the auction's under tack show.

Fasig-Tipton and three other major sale firms – Barretts, Keeneland, and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. – developed the uniform policies for their auctions and announced their implementation earlier this year. In addition to riding crop use, the policies address medication, various prohibited practices, and horse shoes.